Postcard



Oct. 15, 1968 H. PRESTON ET AL POSTCARD Original Filed July 28, 1965 IS l5a Z: (.5. l5 fi 7,, ,u. mrnr?.

INVENTORS HART PRESTON HAROLD BARNETT ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,405,467 POSTCARD Hart Preston, Amenonville, Rond Point, Duboys dAngiers, Cannes, France, and Harold Barnett,

1 Blvd. Beaumarchais, Paris 4, France Continuation of application Ser. No. 475,407, July 28, 1965. This application Nov. 16, 1967, Ser. No. 684,070 7 Claims. (Cl. 40124.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A card is made of two similar sections connected by an integrally formed hinge with each section having a generally dish-like configuration whereby in its unfolded state the card may be used as a greeting card and when closed, the device is usable as mailing piece and container.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 475,407, filed July 28, 1965, now abondoned.

This invention relates to a novel postcard and the like. More particularly, the invention concerns a foldable device which is a decorative frame in the open position, and when folded is suitable for mailing purposes, etc.

Another object of this invention is to provide a foldable device adapted to be used as a decorative frame in the open position and as a postcard in the closed position, comprising foldable members which have a common folding edge and the members have flanged peripheries which are adapted to meet when the members are folded together. The foldable members are not flat sheets, but rather are formed in a manner that they have a geometric cross-sectional configuration.

Another object of this invention is to provide a foldable device having decorative qualities and many uses which is economical and inexpensive to produce.

With the above and other objects in mind, the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a postcard constituting an embodiment of this invention in a partially open position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the postcard of FIGURE 1 in the closed position;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary section of a modification of the folding edge of the postcard of FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 4, 5, 6, and 7 are fragmentary sections of additional modifications of the folding edge of the postcard of FIGURE 1.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing, the numeral 10 generally designates a postcard having two foldable members 11 and 12 and a folding edge 13. Member 11 has an inner face 14 bounded by walls 15, 16, and 17. Side walls and 17 taper downwardly towards the folding edge 13 from their junction with the wall 16. Similarly, member 12 has inner face 14a, and walls 15a, 16a, and 17a.

A flange 18 is disposed along the top edges of the walls 15, 16, and 17. Similarly, flange 18a is disposed along the top edges of walls 15a, 16a, and 17a. When the two members 11 and 12 are folded together, the faces of the flanges 18 and 18a meet and the postcard is in a closed position as shown in FIGURE 2.

It will be noted that each of the side walls 15, 15a, 17 and 17a have a geometric configuration in the form of a triangle. It is understood that each pair of side walls of a member may have any suitable geometric configuration within the spirit of the invention. Thus, the side walls may be semicircular, semi-elliptical, or any semipolygonal shape. The members 11 and 12 may have identical side Walls or they may be different. However, it is necessary 3,405,467 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 that each of the members 11 and 12 be formed such that the flanges 18 and 18a meet in the closed position.

For mailing purposes, etc., the postcard may be kept closed by the use of a small piece of adhesive tape or the like. Other suitable closing means may also be used such as tongue and groove means disposed in the flange faces, etc. It is also contemplated that the flange faces may be more permanently sealed for storage purposes, etc., by the use of pressure sensitive adhesives, etc.

The inner faces 14 and 14a are adapted to carry a printed or written message, photographs, advertising, etc. The faces 14 and 14a may be adapted to permit writing or printing directly thereon or a paper sheet member or the like may be secured to the faces.

The outer faces 19 and 19a (FIGURE 2) may be used for addressing the postcard, etc. In addition, one of the outer faces may carry suspending means whereby the postcard may be hung in the open position, either horizontally or vertically, to display pictures, scenes, advertising, etc. which are present on the inner faces 14 and 14a. It is also contemplated that the device may be disposed in a partially open position on a horizontal surface for display purposes. The walls 15, 15a, 16, 16a, 17, 17a and the flanges 18 and 18a form a decorative frame.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, if a paper sheet or photograph is secured to the faces 14 and 14a across the folding edge 13, a crease may be formed which may be undesirable. To avoid the possible formation of a crease, the embodiments shown in FIGURES 3, 4, and 5 may be used.

In FIGURE 3, the folding edge of the postcard, instead of being knife-edged, is allowed to round over at 20 when the two members are folded together. The side walls 15, 15a, and 17, 17a in this case are formed in such a manner that they do not abut as shown at 21.

In FIGURE 4, the folding edge 22 is preformed with a slight rounded section whereby there is negligible crumpling of any sheet attached to the faces 14 and 14a.

In FIGURE 5, the folding edge of the postcard may actually be formed by the attached sheet itself, if the sheet is of such substance and strength that it will not easily tear. Thus, the sheet 23 is secured to the faces 14 and 14a of the postcard members 11 and 12, respectively, and forms a folding portion at 24.

In FIGURE 6, a folding edge is preformed as an accordion type pleat 25. This type of folding edge is more suitable for heavy duty use such as in the case where the postcard is to be opened and closed quite often and in the case where the secured sheet is a heavier substance and may have an additional protective cover of a clear plastic material and the like.

In the foregoing FIGURES 3-6, the folding portion has been enlarged in the drawings for purposes of ease of understanding and explanation. It is understood that in actuality, the folding portion is smaller than shown. The arrows in the FIGURES 3-6 show the direction of closure of the device.

The postcard may be formed from any suitable moldable paper or plastic material having a desired degree of rigidity and flexibility. Particularly suitable are various plastic materials from which the postcard may be inexpensively formed as by molding, stamping, etc. as a unit, for example, from the polypropylene, polystyrene and polyvinyl chloride type resins.

While it is the primary purpose of the invention to provide a device usable as a postcard, it is clear that the device may be used for other purposes such as a greeting card. In this regard, it is particularly adaptable, during molding or stamping thereof, to produce on the inner faces 14 and 14a and/or outer faces 19 and 19a, greetings and images in relief or intaglio.

What is claimed is:

1. A foldable device comprising two identical members, the peripheral edges of said members having flanged faces, said members being joined together along a common folding edge, said peripheral edges of one of said members adapted to meet the peripheral edges of the other member along said flanged faces when said members are folded together along said common folding edge, each of said members having a three dimensional configuration comprising a planar surface extending outwardly from said folding edge, said planar surface bounded by said peripheral edge, said peripheral edge tapering upwardly from said folding edge and said planar surface, whereby said foldable device may be used as a decorative three-dimensional frame in the open position and as a container in the folded position.

2. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein said members have polygonal planar surfaces.

3. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein said folding edge is preformed as a rounded edge.

4. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein said folding edge is preformed as an accordion pleat.

5. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein said folding edge is formed by a sheet material attached to the inner- References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 345,158 7/1886 Lounsbury 40158 2,974,434 3/1961 Gibson 40-124.1 3,307,281 3/1967 Mateo 40-124.1

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

W. I. CONTRERAS, Assistant Examiner. 

